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Explore Senior School

As your son or daughter begins to identify more with peers than parents you need to be confident that they’re in the best environment to thrive and succeed.

A balanced education at CCGS will keep them energised, involved and motivated to reach their personal and academic potential. CCGS is the only private school on the Central Coast that offers a values rich education without affiliation to any religious bodies.

It’s a critical time as students lay the foundations for the journey towards adulthood and then emerge as young adults with the character, confidence and credentials to choose their career post school. Middle School (Years 7 to 9) sees students through adolescence and Senior College (Years 10 to 12) nurtures emerging young adults.

Get Year 7 Ready

Our senior school offers more opportunity, more room to grow and a more stimulating program to keep students safe and switched on to learning through these complicated senior years. Your son or daughter will receive a warm welcome and find their place alongside continuing Year 6 students who are also looking for new friends, new interests and new challenges.

Every year we welcome around 40 new Year 7 students from families just like yours.

We have five Year 7 roll call groups and varying class sizes depending on subject.

The enrolment journey starts at the beginning of Year 6 with an information event and invitation to families on the waitlist to attend an enrolment interview with the Head of Middle School, to align hopes and expectations.

Mid-year all new and continuing students complete an academic screening test so we know where they are up to when organising class placement and planning extension and support. CCGS is not an academically selective school.

Getting to Know You Day at the end of Year 6 is a fun and informal experience for new and continuing students to get to know each other and their teachers.

The smooth transition continues once Year 7 begins with five or six buddies assigned to each new student, creating lots of connections between different personalities and interests.

Year 7 Parent Reps welcome all new families. Parents can make new friends and meet teachers informally at the Headmaster’s Welcome Gathering at the start of the year.

A couple of weeks into term, parents meet key staff looking after their child at a Year 7 information evening and can get their initial questions answered.

An Outdoor Education Camp wraps up the first term, cementing bonds between students and teachers.

Parents receive their child’s Personal Learning Profile (PLP) at the end of Term 1 and attend a parent teacher consultation at the start of Term 2, to see how things are going emotionally and academically and to iron out any bumps.

We contact our wait list at the beginning of the preceding year to finalise enrolment, so it’s worth registering for enrolment well in advance to be sure of placement. For more information head to our Enrolment FAQs

Middle School (Years 7-9)

The wellbeing and happiness of students in their early years of senior school is critical if they are to reach their potential.

It’s a formative time with lots of changes in bodies and emotions, friendships and interests, early and late bloomers. The Middle School team nurtures students through this developmental stage, building self-belief and a positive self-image. They’re allowed to stumble and get stronger. They know they’re respected and valued as individuals. We want them to love school and find their passion.

A wide range of Year 9 electives and character building community service opportunities expand their horizon and prepare them for the academic challenges of Senior College.

Our students are particularly friendly and respectful. I always feel a sense of pride and mutual respect when I am in their company.

Steven Bennett, Head of Middle School

Senior College (Years 10 to 12)

In Senior College we value the personal attributes of understanding, honesty and integrity, individual and team effort. We value diversity, respect for others and authority, and commitment to family and community life. We want students to be excited about life and setting goals for lifelong learning.

When students step-up to Senior College they become bigger people, bigger role models. They’re engaged and vital participants in the school community and are a very active part of making the CCGS culture.

Learning comes in a variety of forms, social, physical, emotional, spiritual and academic. The journey of self-discovery is as vital as learning the prescribed curriculum and plays a significant role in enhancing the values that continue to influence our choices and direction.

Motivational seminars encourage students to reflect on their approach to study, to hold a vision and to lead, as well as respect and encourage those around them who are on the same rigorous academic journey.

We prepare our students to approach their final exams connected and supportive of each other, with a serious and practical confidence that only comes from knowing that they have prepared well and have honestly done their best.

House Coordinators will be your child’s ‘guardian angels’ in terms of academic support and wellbeing. They work in student support teams that include school psychologists to carefully monitor every student's emotional health and progress.Read more.

International tours and a unique school-based reciprocal exchange program develop independence and intercultural perspective. We partner with schools in China, Canada, Wales, Ireland, Germany, Japan and the USA. Read more.

Participation is what makes our school so united and our students so well balanced. Get involved in sports, dance, drama, music, public speaking and debating, robotics, outdoor education, community service and more. Read more.

Student Voices

"My time at CCGS has been more than just schooling...to say goodbye to this school is one of the hardest things i've ever had to do. It's ethos and mentality to ensuring everyone is happy and supported proves that it is truly an exemplary school.”

Jordan, Year 12

"Since starting at CCGS I was immersed in a supportive environment, facilitating my ability to thrive alongside some amazing friends...I was impressed with the level of respect from all members of the school community and how caring and invested they were in me and my schooling journey."

Emma, Year 12

Academic Achievement

We aim to develop curious, resilient learners with an instinctive desire to discover and find a way through. Our community’s expectation is that every student will reach their personal academic potential and this is reflected in our HSC and NAPLAN results.

Senior Highlights

Careers Guidance

An expert Careers Advisor educates students to explore ideas and options to develop their personal career plan. The Dean of Studies and the Senior College team counsel each student to choose an optimum, flexible and fulfilling study path to achieve their potential and ambitions.

Our diverse elective courses include interesting options like Photographic and Digital Media, Philosophy, Sociology and Marine and Aquaculture Technology, exposing students to a diverse range of possibilities. Lots of HSC options mean they can study what interests them to the highest Extension level.

The character of our senior student role models is what makes the tone and flavour of our school so special. Our Strive to Lead Diploma is an opportunity to learn leadership skills through workshops, a fortnightly seminar program and service to others. It's of huge benefit for those seeking leadership roles in the community and in the future.

Students enjoy a contemporary, technology-rich learning environment, making learning at CCGS a more immersive, relevant and compelling experience. A Notebook program for Years 7 to 9 and a BYOD program in Years 10 to12 is supported by advanced infrastructure.

Learning support experts collaborate closely with classroom teachers to extend high potential learners and enrich the curriculum for students facing learning challenges. Strategies include: ability streaming, curriculum compaction, acceleration, external competitions and workshops, inclusive in class support and after school study support.

Our expansive, green school environment symbolises freedom and opportunity. Highlights are state of the art Science and Technology labs, a professional Performing Arts Centre and unrivalled sporting facilities.